Teaching Bird Tricks: Wave, Spin, Shake Hands, and More

Tricks aren't just entertaining — they provide mental stimulation, strengthen your bond, and build your bird's confidence. Here are four popular tricks with step-by-step instructions.

Trick Difficulty Chart

Trick	Difficulty	Prerequisites	Avg. Time to Learn
Wave	Easy	Step-up	3-7 days
Spin	Easy-Medium	Target training	5-10 days
Shake Hands	Medium	Step-up, comfort with hand	7-14 days
Wings Out (Eagle)	Medium-Hard	Trust, touch tolerance	14-28 days

1. Wave

1. Cue a step-up by presenting your finger, but pull back slightly before the bird's foot lands
2. Your bird's foot will lift and hang in the air briefly — that's the wave!
3. Mark ("Good!") and reward the instant the foot lifts
4. Add the verbal cue "Wave!" once the motion is consistent
5. Gradually delay the reward so the bird holds the wave longer

2. Spin

1. Hold a treat or target stick near your bird's beak
2. Slowly guide it in a circle around your bird's body so they turn to follow it
3. Initially reward a quarter turn, then a half turn, then a full 360-degree spin
4. Add the cue "Spin!" once your bird completes full rotations
5. Fade the lure — use a smaller hand motion, then just the verbal cue

3. Shake Hands

1. Present your fingertip at foot level (not for step-up — just one finger, low)
2. When your bird lifts a foot to investigate or grip, gently hold the foot for 1 second
3. Mark and reward immediately
4. Add the cue "Shake!" and gradually shape a gentle foot-to-finger grip
5. Keep it brief and gentle — birds don't naturally enjoy foot restraint

4. Wings Out (Eagle Pose)

1. Wait for your bird to naturally stretch their wings (often after preening or waking up)
2. The instant they spread their wings, say "Good!" and reward
3. This is called "capturing" — you're marking a natural behavior
4. Add the cue "Big bird!" or "Eagle!" just before they tend to stretch
5. With repetition, your bird will learn to spread wings on cue

Pro Tip

Keep trick training sessions to one trick at a time. Introducing too many tricks simultaneously confuses your bird. Master one before moving to the next.